Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of cooperative models of business promoted and developed by Enterprise Ireland or the county enterprise boards over the past three years; and the steps taken to promote the development of cooperatives as a model for job creation and business growth. [20902/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Enterprise Ireland (EI) client base includes, amongst others, a number of co-operative societies. It is a matter for each enterprise, in consultation with its own legal advisers, to determine what legal structure best suits its own particular requirements. While EI does not offer any advice to clients in this regard, it does encourage networking between client companies. EI facilitates such networking through various industry events, seminars, workshops, trade missions and client management development programmes such as Leadership for Growth and International Selling.

The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to provide support to micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases. Whilst priority must be given to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, Community Groups and Cooperatives can access CEB supports provided that they conform to the normal eligibility criteria. It is my understanding that a number of CEBs have had varying levels of interaction with cooperatives over the years.